Juan O\' Donojú

Juan O' Donojú or Juan O' Donahue (1762 with Seville, Spain - October 8th 1821, Mexico City) was an officer of the Spanish army and Vice-roi of News-Spain of the July 21st 1821 with the September 28th 1821, at the time of the Guerre of independence of Mexico. He was the last viceroy of the colony.

Soldier

Born in Seville, of Irish origin, O' Donojú enters the very young army. After being itself distinguished at the time of the war against the France, in 1814, it is named Minister for the war by Regency ( Junta de Cádiz ). With the return of the king Ferdinand VII, it becomes its aide-de-camp

O' Donojú was a liberal and a friend of the liberal rebel Rafael del Riego. During the re-establishment of the constitution in 1820, he is general captain of Andalusia.

In News-Spain

It arrives to News-Spain in 1821 as general captain and with the capacities (but not the title) of Viceroy. He lends oath as of his arrival to Veracruz on July 21st 1821. He discovers that all the country, except for this city, Mexico City and Acapulco supports the Plan of Iguala and the general rebels Agustín de Iturbide.

The the Cortes in Spain had granted autonomy, but not independence, with the Spanish possessions of Americas.

August 3rd, 1821, O' Donojú emits a proclamation of its liberal principles and invites Iturbide for a conference in a place of its choice, this last indicates the city of Córdaba. O' Donojú, accompanied by Colonel Antonio López de Santa Anna arrives there on August 23rd, the meeting takes place the next day. They manage an agreement and sign the Treaty of Córdaba based on the Plan of Iguala. The only part of the Plan of Iguala amended was Article 4 which related to the governmental functions. New article 4 added that if no family member of the Bourbon accepted the crown of News-Spain (what was extremely possible), the the Cortes of the Mexico would elect their monarch freely. What amounted saying that the crown would go in Iturbide.

The Spanish military chiefs of the colony do not accept the independence of Mexico. Spanish troops occupy the places of Mexico City and Veracruz, the fort of San Carlos de Perote, and the castle of San Diego in Acapulco. They are besieged and all except Veracruz go. Francisco Novella is besieged in Mexico City by the Ejército of mow Tres Garantías (the army of the three guarantees, the unified independence army consisted the Plan of Iguala), led by Vicente Guerrero and Nicolás Bravo. Novella accepted a suspension of hostilities. Colonel Santa Anna besieges the sergeant García Dávila with San Juan de Ulúa, Veracruz, but this last will go only four years later.

O' Donojú the USA of its influence for a withdrawal of the Spanish troops of the country with a minimum of bloodshed and a honourable rendering. It approved the promotion of Novella, the preceding Viceroy by interim, with the rank of Brigadier.

September 13rd 1821, O' Donojú meets Novella and Iturbide in Hacienda of Patera, close to Villa of Guadalupe, rounding the angles and arranging the details of the transfer of power. Novella then orders with the Spanish troops to leave Mexico City. The troops leave the capital as of on September 21st and the insurrectionists enter there the 24. The 26 O' Donojú then the 27 Iturbide issue the independence of the Mexican Empire. O' Donojú as 33 other personalities belong to the provisional government that Iturbide directs. It signs the Act of Independence the September 28th 1821.

October 3rd 1821, thegeneral one of the Guatemala (compound of the Chiapas, of Guatemala, of the El Salvador, the Nicaragua, the Costa Rica and the Honduras) proclaims its independence and its fastening with the Mexican Empire. This area was formally prone of News-Spain during the colonial period but, in practice, it was managed separately. All these provinces, except for Chiapas, were going besides soon to separate from Mexico.

O' Donojú died of Pleurésie shortly after independence, on October 8th, 1821, only two months and half after its arrival in News-Spain. It was buried with the honors due to a viceroy in the crypt of the Furnace bridge of the Kings of the cathedral of Mexico City.

Sources

"Juan O' Donojú, " Enciclopedia of Mexico City , v. 10. Mexico City, 1987.
García Puron, Handbook, Mexico City known there gobernantes , v. 1. Mexico City: Joaquín Porrua, 1984.
Orozco L., Fernando, Fechas Históricas of Mexico City . Mexico City: Leading panorama, 1988.
Orozco Linares, Fernando, Gobernantes of Mexico City . Mexico City: Leading panorama, 1985.

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